How to Write a Great Front Desk Receptionist Resume

An effective receptionist resume will be well-presented and results-driven, with a focus on previous experience as a front office receptionist or in related fields like administrative support and customer service. Highlight your experience performing administrative tasks, scheduling appointments, managing company data, greeting visitors, taking phone calls, procuring office equipment and completing paperwork.

 

Along with these role-specific hard skills, you should also cover certain soft skills like communication and organization. Many of the required skills of a receptionist are transferable and can be evidenced with other work experience.

The structure of your receptionist resume will vary depending on your chosen resume format. You have three options:

• Chronological — Emphasizes work experience
• Functional — Focuses on skills
• Combination — Balances skills and work experience

The chronological format is the preferred format of most recruiters and hiring managers. This resume format is best for those with several years of work experience.

 

 

Add your contact information to the resume header at the top of the page. You must include your full name, location, phone number and email address. Present this information clearly so the hiring manager can easily contact you should they wish to schedule you for an interview. Also include links to your job networking profiles like Linkedin.

 

 

The resume summary or resume objective is a brief profile of yourself as a candidate. There is a slight difference between the two. A resume summary provides an overview of your key skills and experiences, while a resume objective states your career aspirations. If you already have several years of experience as a receptionist, a resume summary will work best. If you are just starting out in your career or you are changing careers, a resume objective works well.  

 

 

Use the skills section to tailor your resume to the role. Read through the job description and pick out some of the listed skills to include in your resume. Hard skills applicable to the role of a front desk receptionist include:

• Data entry
• Email management
• Microsoft Office
• Supply management
• Bilingualism

Soft skills may include:

• Communication skills
• Organizational skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Customer service skills
• Time management
• Problem-solving
• Multitasking

Cover a mix of soft and hard skills in your resume to truly show that you have the qualifications to perform the job successfully..

 

 

In the work experience section, run through your previous job titles held over the past 10 years and list them in reverse-chronological order, with your most recent job listed first. For each position, list your responsibilities and significant accomplishments relevant to the role of a receptionist in bullet points. If you don’t have receptionist experience, you can still discuss other roles provided that they draw on similar skills. Any job involving administrative tasks or customer service will be worth discussing here. Be sure to include the company, your job title and dates of employment.

 

 

List your highest level of education in the education section. This could be a high school diploma or a bachelor’s degree. You should also include relevant training programs in this section, such as MS Office certification.

Follow the tips below to write the perfect resume.

 

Do:

• Tailor your resume to the role.

Not all receptionist jobs will necessarily be the same. Study the job description and adapt your resume accordingly, tailoring your resume objective and skills section to the needs of the role.

• Use examples in the work history section.

When discussing your work experience, use specific examples and quantifiable metrics. For example, this could be your customer satisfaction rate or the average number of calls you handle per day.

• Use a resume template. 

Resume templates are a great option for job seekers who want an eye-catching resume without the hassle of having to design it themselves. Our resume builder features hundreds of free templates ready for you to use. Don’t:

• Use passive language.

Use action verbs like ‘managed’ and ‘organized’ when describing your work experience. These demonstrate ownership of your tasks and create interest.

• Include your GPA.

It’s best practice to omit your high school or college GPA from your resume. Simply list your highest level of education, whether you graduated from high school, college or a university.

• Forget to proofread.

Receptionists need to be detail-oriented. Resumes filled with spelling, grammar, or formatting mistakes will reflect poorly on your skills and may lead the hiring manager to reject your application.